Del Dios Highlands County Preserve

Set amid 774 acres of open space in Escondido, Del Dios Highlands
County Preserve is an inviting place to see and experience nature. As
part of the County of San
Diego’s Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) the
County partnered with the Escondido Creek Conservancy and the San
Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority to acquire the parkland,
restore it, and coordinate a plan to preserve it for future generations.

The preserve includes habitats of coastal sage scrub and mixed
chaparral, providing a welcoming habitat to various mammals and
reptiles. Birds of prey are a common site, often appearing overhead or
perched in the park’s trees.

Those seeking an active
outdoor experience will definitely find it here. The preserve includes
a QR Fit exercise trail and 1.5 miles of multi-use non-motorized trail
open for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. The Del Dios
Highland Trail straddles the San Dieguito and Escondido Creek
Watersheds and runs between the communities of Del Dios and Elfin
Forest. Make your way half way up the trail from the Del Dios Highway
staging area for an inspiring view of Lake Hodges, or make you way
further up the trail where, on a clear day, you can see all the way to
the Pacific Ocean.